Tobacco filter



June 25,1957

M. GERARD EI'AL TOBACCO FILTER Filed Feb. 12, 1954 BV Z/ .NWS n um Nm Q xw my.. Nvu

United States Patent() TOBACCO FILTER Merwin Gerard, Seeleg Lester, and Otto R. Nemeth, Los Angeles, Calif., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Aqualter Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application February 12, 1954, Serial No. 410,001

4 Claims. (Cl. 1311-207) 'I'his invention relates to tobacco filters and more particularly to a new and improved tobacco filtering means adapted to be contained within a cartridge-type container for replacement after predetermined use.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide a new and improved replaceable filter for cigar or cigarette holders or for pipes or other tobacco smoking media.

It is also -among the objects of this invention to provide a new and improved replaceable filter of the desired character described which is adapted to filter an optimum of undesirable factors from the customary combustion of tobacco as used, including much of the relatively noxious by-products of smoking which have been found, or are suspected of being found detrimental to the health of the smoker.

Likewise among the objects of this invention is the provision of such a filter which cools the smoke and other products of combustion that enter the mouth while selectively removing impurities, thus enhancing smoking enjoyment and rendering the same available to a greater extent than heretofore by the elimination of irritants which limit tolerance among smokers.

By the instant invention, the tobacco smoking habit and the pleasure derived therefrom, are intended to become more widely and safely available, both quantitative-A ly .and qualitatively, to those who already smoke, and to those who may thereby be induced to smoke. So that, in addition, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and improved tobacco lter of such efficacy as to overcome the frequently encountered fears of sensitive or nervous people that the smoking of tobacco may be harmful, wherefore their capacity to enjoy smoking is undesirably impaired, to the resultant loss -to the tobaccoA industry, not to mention the subject individual.

In furtherance of the above and among other objects, it is intended by the instant invention to provide such a desired tobacco filter which is capable of facile and inexpensive reproduction, replacement and/ or use, which is made of readily available materials, neatly and effectively packaged, and retainable indefinitely in a state of storage at room temperatures, and being optionally and preferably automatically transformed from a state of non-use to a condition for use.

Still another object of this invention is the provision' of a new and improved combined holder means and filter capsule means with a new and improved principle of coaction and/or cooperation between them, associated with a preferred preparation of the filter for use upon being positioned within the holder for use.

Yet other objects are the provision of new and im-Y ice 2 physical, improvements over prior art devices heretofore contemplated for generally similar purposes.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the construction, arrangement and combination of the'various parts of the device whereby the ob jects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of a cigar or cigarette holder embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is an exploded view thereof in said longitudinal sectional view.

Figure 3 is a perspective exploded view of the filter cartridge and contents.l

Figure 4 is :an end view as of the right-hand vend of Figure l showing the parts'of the holder in an alternative operative position.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of another filter means of a form optionally usable with the preferred embodiment of the preceding figures.

Figure k6 is a perspective view of a further modified form of filter embodying this invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown by way of illustration but not of limitation a cigarette holder 10, comprising a cigarette holding end 11 and a mouthpiece 12 releasably secured together as by a threaded connection 13.

A separate body portion 14 may be permanently secured as by a turned-in shoulder 14a to a complementary annular groove and shoulder in the mouthpiece 12. Thereby said body portion 14 may be formed of, say, metal, while the mouthpiece 12 may be formed of another material of contrasting color or texture, as for example, bone or plastic. In any event, the body portion 14 is continuous with a body portion of the end 11 so as to form within the holder an axial chamber 15 for the reception, preferably in a slidable manner, of a filter cartridge 16.

The cartridge 16 preferably comprises a sleeve portion 17, end caps 18 and 19, a liquid reservoir 20 containing a fluid such as water, mineral oil, glycerine, or the like, 21, and a filter 22.

The filter body 22 preferably comprises a roll or cylinder of cotton gauze (see Figures l through 4), cotton wicking material 22a (see Figure 5 or other reticulate, mat-like, sponge-like, or fibrous material capable of absorbing or adsorbing and retaining, as in the manner of a blotter or sponge, or cloth, or the like, a quantity of water to be retained therein as and for a filter for the tobacco smoke drawn therethrough.

The filter 22a (Figure 5) is preferably retained within the sleeve 17 in a manner to fill the same from wall to occasioned by the presence of moisture held therein forV the relatively long periods of time involved in marketing of the filters.

In order to provide a supply of desired fluid within the cartridge 16 while at the same time preventing dampening or premature wetting of the filter itself prior to intended use, said fluid reservoir 20 may be positioned in the cartridge in any desired portion of the body of the filter, but preferably toward one end thereof, as illustrated at the right-hand end of Figures l, 2 or 3, so as to be vulnerable to piercing as by an axially'directed piercing member 23, having a point at 24. An axial bore 25, cornmunicates with the front end of the chamber 15, as will be described, and a cigarette holding recess 26, by means of a plurality of radially directed passageways 27.

The cartridge sleeve 17, for the purpose of retaining the 3 lter 22 (Figure 3) is formed as with ears 28. Said sleeve 17 is also preferably split longitudinally as at 29, so that the resultant adjacent edges overlap, as at 30. Thereby-the inherent strength and resilience 'of'the sleeve 17, which-may be of sheet metal, aluminum foil, paper or plastic material, retains the -essential sleeve-like or scroll-like form illustrated most clearly in Figure 3. If desired, however, the sleeve 17 may be cylindrical and of a diameter approximating that of the caps 1S, 19. The' caps 18, 19 can, in such case, be press-fit or otherwise held in the ends thereof.

The filter 22, in a dry condition, and especially where it is-formed of a brous, matted, or woven material such as cotton, may be loosely held therein; When wet, however, some such materials as, Vfor example, cotton Wicking, or the like, swell to enlarged proportions, a condition compensated forby the overlapping end portions of the sleevey 17 at 29 and 30. In order to permit such free swelling, without undue compression of the lter, the caps 18 and 19 are preferably secured to the sleeve 17 at positions displaced from the edges 29, so as not to interfere with the rolling, shrinking, or expanding of the lter and the corresponding expansion or contraction of the sleeve 17, by virtue of said split 29. Y Y

' InV order to permit thepenetration ofthe piercing mernber 23, the reservoir 20, as well as the cap 19, is formed of a normally water-tight but readily puncturable material such as a thin plastic, whereby upon relative axial moving or threading together of the portions 11 and 12 of the holder 10, the piercing member 23 readily punctures the cap 19 and also the reservoir 20, the walls of the latter being such as to tear, and the exterior walls of thepiercing means being, if desired,` iluted, or. otherwise rendered' irregular, to permit the free ow or ready access of the entrapped liquid 21 to the absorptive filter 22 (Figure 3.)

In order to prevent the liquid in the reservoir 20 from leaking past the member 23, the reser/voir 20 may be spaced from'the end of the cartridge 116. To further foster and encourage the proper directional ilow of the liquid 21, the member 23 may be roughened or enlarged on its outer surface in the area adiacent its point and rendered .relatively more smooth toward its base so that leakage toward the apex isencouraged and corresponding flow Vor leakage toward the base is discouraged.

The caps 18 or 19, where provided, are preferably perforate or foraminous, as at 31, to permit passage of the smoke. But to prevent leakage of excess moisture from the iilter, either by virtue of said saturation with the liquid 21, or during normal use of the: filter, an annular undercut 32 is provided in the mouthpiece 12, communieating with the chamber 15, and a corresponding annular undercut or liquid trap 33 is formed around the base of the member 23 in communication with said radial passagewaysA 27.

At the outer end of the holder is a body member 34, optionally supporting said undercut Water trap 33, said member 23 and an annular flange 35. Said member 34 has a sleeve-like extension 36 slidably accommodating thereover an annulus or collar 37 secured for limited rotation and relative axial movement' to said sleeve portion 36. This is accomplished by a transverse rod 3S and corresponding slots 39 slidably receiving the same, so that, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 4, when the collar 37 is manually rotated relative to the body of the holder 10, rod 38 is moved outwardly to engage against the butt end of a cigarette or cigar and eject thesame from the outer end of the holder. The body portion 34 may be of metal, such as the body portion 14, to contrast. with the material in the mainl body portion 11 and/ or the collar 37 in similar manner to the part 14 upon the mouthpiece 12.

`In the use of the instant apparatus, a cartridge 16- preliminarily preferably sealed againstl moisture in accordance with knownpackaging techniques, as by-means of plastic, wax, or the likeis inserted slidably intorthe 4 chamber 15 of the holder 10. Upon joining of the portions 11 and 12 of the body of the holder, preferably including the securement of these respective portions by means of a threaded connection at 13, the liquid reservoir 20 is punctured so as to permit the contained liquid, e. g., water, with an optional wetting 'agent therein, to penetrate and wet the filter body 22 (Figure 3) to a desired extent.

Such-wettingaction, if the cartridge sleeve 17 is split asl alongA the edges 29, causes the lter body to swell, bringing the caps 18 and 19, and the walls 17, of the cartridge in desired close proximity, preferably substantially sealed against the annular walls of the chamber 15.

The further modied form of filter illustrated in Figure 6 comprises a plurality of absorbent pads 51, and the like, each composed of similar material to that of the other forms of ilter herein disclosed. In order to retain said pads in desired spaced relationship, alternate washers 52 are interposed therewith in face-to-face abutting relationshipwith the-pads 51. The Washers have openings' S3 therethrough.

The pad and washer form of filter prevents undesirable packing and clogging of the otherwise relatively elongate filter body. Likewise, it provides an improved draft through the lter body, considered as a unit, and provides optimum ltering by increasing the number of surfaces through which the smoke mostly passes. In addition, the openings S3 in the washers assist in preventing excessive sweating of the filter, or escape ofthe water or other liquid with which said filter is intended to be wet. Thus, the excess moisture or liquid is entrapped within the washers.

It has been found advantageous, however, to form the instant modified form of lter with alternate pads and washers, as illustrated, the parts being preferably inabut ting relationship and retained Within an outer water-impervious sleeve of metal, plastic, or the like, 54.

The washers 52 are preferably formed of paper or plastic when they are used alternately with the pads 51, as illustrated.

This invention features the provision'of a new and improved filter for tobacco by virtue of which the tobacco smoke is washed, wetted, filtered and cooled. Thus, it is intended to remove the harsher ingredients of the tobacco smoke which may be physiologically injurious, and also to eliminate psychological barriers to optimum smoking enjoyment. By wetting the smoke and cooling the same, customary high mouth temperatures and-throat and mouth dryness resulting from habitualismoking are markedly reduced.

For the purposes of this invention is has been found, for example, that commercially available, conventional surgical cotton gauze, approximately 11/2 inches wide and 71/2 inches long, rolled into a cylinder approximately 1-1/2V inches long and approximately 5/f; inch in diameter, is satisfactory. Such a cylinder weighs approximately milligrams when dry. The reservoir for the fluid will satisfactorily saturate the gauze cylinder with the equivalent-of approximately 13 drops of water.

If glycerine orV mineral oil or other non-iniiammable iluids having no greater volatility or vapor pressure than water` are used, the 'amount of such liquid may be' reduced. Thus,y glycerin or mineral oil, or the like, has a-low'er surface tension than water but will not evaporate as readily and will involve less of a packaging problem if lengthy storage is contemplated.

Cotton wicking, absorbent cotton, and' otherfibrous our invention,.which is not to be limited to the. details` disclosedherein but is to be accorded the full' scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent structures and devices.

We claim:

1. In a tobacco holder and filter cartridge combination, a holder assembly including interconnectable mouthpiece and tobacco holding sections, said sections when interconnected defining a cartridge chamber, a filter cartridge insertable in said chamber and including a body of absorbent material and a sealed reservoir adjacent said body, said reservoir being formed of puncturable material and being filled with liquid, and one of said sections of said holder assembly being provided with a piercing element positioned to penetrate through said reservoir 1 and a portion of said absorbent body to form a liquid passage therebetween.

2. In a cigarette holder and filter cartridge combination, a holder assembly including interconnectable mouthpiece and cigarette holding sections, said sections when interconnected defining a filter cartridge chamber and having a smoke passage extending axially of said holder and communicating at opposite ends with said chamber, and a cartridge insertable in said chamber and including a body of absorbent material and a sealed reservoir filled with liquid adjacent said body, said reservoir being formed of puncturable material, and said cigarette holding section further including a piercing element extending into said chamber to penetrate through said reservoir of said cartridge and a portion of said body to form a liquid passage therebetween to saturate said body.

3. In a cigarette holder and filter cartridge combination, a holder assembly including interconnectable mouthpiece and cigarette holding sections, said sections when interconnected defining a filter cartridge chamber and having a smoke passage extending axially of said holder and communicating at opposite ends with said chamber, a cartridge insertable in said chamber and including a sleeve, a cylinder of absorbent material and an adjacent sealed drum of liquid disposed within said sleeve, said `drum having puncturable end Walls, and said cigarette holding section further including a piercing element extending axially into said chamber to penetrate through said drum and a portion of said cylinder to form a liquid passage therebetween to saturate said cylinder.

4. The combination, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said piercing element is tapered and provided with fluted walls to permit free flow of said liquid into said absorptive filter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 41,778 Hutchinson Mar. 1, 1864 455,614 Gonzalez July 7, 1891 598,350 Seidenspiner Feb. 1, 1898 1,528,237 Arnold Mar. 3, 1925 1,764,795 Jones June 17, 1930 1,967,558 John July 24, 1934 2,033,867 Segal Mar. 10, 1936 2,100,051 Hallner NOV. 23, 1937 2,158,897 Cippico May 16, 1939 2,185,672 Lautman Jan. 2, 1940 2,216,283 Tarrant Oct. 1, 1940 2,220,449 Hennings Nov. 5, 1940 2,228,812 Burchell Jan. 14, 1941 2,353,936 Smith July 18, 1944 2,755,206 Statia July 17, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 28,469 Great Britain 1902 243,199 Great Britain Nov. 26, 1925 716,592 France Oct. 12, 1931 900,370 France Oct. 2, 1944 915,311 France July 22, 1946 UNITED `STATES PATENT oFIcE CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent No. 2,796,869 June 25, 1957 Mez-win Gerard et aL It i'e hereby certified that error appears .in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the seid Letters Patent should read ae corrected below.

Column 4, line 50, for ninvention is" read -inv ad -l,96'7,556.

line 2l, list of' references cit-ed, for "1,967,558" re Signed and sealed this 20th day of August 195'?.l

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL Hf AXLINE ROBERT c. wATsoN ttestlng Officer VComnissioner of Patents 

